Tourist tax: The major holiday destinations where you will have to pay extra this summer as more hotspots bring in tourism charges

Major holiday destinations have introduced a tourist tax this year meaning holidaymakers will pay extra at these hotspots this summer. Tourist tax has been hitting the headlines in recent weeks as more and more destinations jump on the bandwagon charging tourists more money to stay there. 

But, it’s not only European and far-flung destinations that are introducing the charge. Here in the UK, holidaymakers will be charged when in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in Dorset to “safeguard local economy” from 1 July. Cornwall and Devon are also considering introducing a tourist tax.

But if you are jetting off abroad this summer, here is a list of all of the destinations that have introduced a tourist tax this year - and where you will have to pay more.

Venice, Italy

Starting on Thursday 25 April 2024, visitors to the historic heart of Venice have had to pay €5 (£4.30) to access the city between 8.30am and 4pm on key days in spring and summer. It is effectively a congestion charge for tourists. The cash from the system will be put back into the Venetian infrastructure.

Barcelona, Spain

For visitors to Barcelona, the tourism tax has existed since 2012. But from 1 April this year, it went up from €2.75 (£2.35) to €3.25 (£2.77) every day. You pay this through your hotel, so if you're heading in for the day from somewhere nearby before leaving, you will avoid the charge.

Greece

The Greek government has brought in the charge as a 'climate crisis resilience fee'. In actual fact, it's just replaced a previous hotel tax policy that was in place. The charge could be up to €10 (£8.53) a night in peak months. For the low season, it is capped at €4 (£3.41). Holidaymakers staying in one or two-star venues will be expected to pay €1.50, or around £1.30 (previously 50 cent) per night, and those staying in three-star venues will have to fork out €3, or around £2.60 (previously €1.50).

More luxury stays at four-star hotels will set holidaymakers back an extra €7, or around £6 (previously €3), while five-star havens will cost an extra €10, or around £8.60 (previously €4).

Bali, Indonesia

If you're heading there now, it'll cost you a fee of IDR 150,000, which is roughly £7.50. You can pay this at Bali Airport or via the Love Bali app, where a fee will be added on top. It's about 'protecting culture and nature', the government says.

Iceland

After temporarily stopping its tourist taxes during the Covid years, they returned from the start of 2024. Hotels are charging ISK 600 (£3.46), campsites ISK 300 (£1.73), and cruise ships stopping off at the island ISK 1,000 (£5.76).

Paris, France

With the Olympics coming to Paris in the summer of 2024, the fees are being upped significantly.  The City Hall in Paris has decided to raise tourist tax by as much as 260% for certain accommodations.

The cost of the tourist tax to be paid in Paris depends on the type of accommodation that guests book. Those staying at a campsite classes as one or two stars are charged €0.65 (55p) per person per night. This rises to €5.20 (£4.40) for those in a three star hotel. The highest fee is charged for visitors staying in a palace who pay €14.95 (£12.75) per person per night, which could add a whopping £357 to the cost of a week-long holiday for a family of four. 

Olhao, Portimão, and Lagoa, Portugal

Situated on the very popular Algarve, the somewhat small town of Olhao has brought in a daily charge. It's in place between April and October every year, with it cut in half during the other months.

It means tourists have to pay a tax of €2 (£1.71) a night, capped at a total of five nights. Portimão - a port city in the popular tourist hotspot of the Algarve - will now charge a tourist tax too. The measure, which varies through the year, was introduced by the Portimão Municipal Council in March. 

According to Portugal Resident, this means that tourists will be charged €2 per night during the “high season” which runs from March 1 to September 30. Meanwhile those heading out during the “low season” from October 1 to February 29 will see a charge of €1.

Lagoa Council has announced that it started charging a municipal tourist tax on April 13. The borough is charging €2 per night during the high season (April to October) and €1 during the rest of the year (November to March) up to a maximum of seven straight nights for all tourists aged 13 or older. The tax applies to guests staying at hotels, resorts, tourist apartments, rural tourism developments, campsites and local lodging (AL) establishments, including hostels.

Valencia, Spain

If you're visiting the city and staying in a hotel, apartment, or campsite, you'll have to pay between 50 cent (43 pence) and €2 (£1.71). The fee will depend on whether you choose to stay in a high-end hotel or in a rental and will only be charged for a maximum of seven days. Cash will go towards supporting affordable housing in the city region.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The policy - dubbed toeristenbelasting - is going up from seven per cent of the cost of a hotel room to 12.5 per cent. So if your room costs £100 a night, expect to pay another £12.50 on top. Amsterdam now has one of the world’s highest tourist taxes. Cruise passengers are also charged a fee of 14 euros (£11.98) under the Dutch city’s daytripper tax.